Start Your Own Lawn Care or Landscaping Business » (REV)

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Rake in the Green

Successful landscapers and lawn care professionals reveal their secrets to success in this $20 billion industry. With all the homes, business parks, apartment complexes, shopping malls and hospitals that need landscaping, you can tailor your services and create your dream job. Your business can range from the simple-mowing and edging lawns, raking leaves and clipping hedges-to applying chemicals and fertilizer, trimming and shaping trees, designing landscapes and more. Learn everything you need to know, including:

• How to find customers
• What equipment you'll need
• How to hire and manage employees
• Record keeping and accounting
• Where to find working capital
• How to calculate job estimates
• And more

If you love working outdoors, you owe it to yourself to buy this step-by-step guide and start building your own successful lawn care or landscaping business.

Preface     xi
The Green, Green Grass of Home     1
The Green Scene     2
Reality Check     2
Industry Snapshot     4
Types of Green Industry Service Businesses     6
Other Opportunities to Get Green     7
Meet the Entrepreneurs     7
Lawn Care     9
Historical Perspective     10
Business Basics     11
Grass Attack     12
Spreading the Wealth     13
Guesstimating Your Worth     13
Establishing Prices     14
Start Your Engine     17
Staffing     18
Weathering the Storm(s)     19
Landscaping     25
Historical Perspective     26
Types of Landscaping Businesses     28
Scope of Services     29
Gardening/Maintenance     30
Installation     31
Special Construction     32
General Business Operations     33
Estimating Jobs     33
Setting Prices     36
Scheduling Jobs     36
A Day in the Life     37
Staffing     38
Weather Woes     39
Mowing Down the Competition     41
Defining Your Market     44
Conducting Market Research     45
Primary Research     45
Surveying the Market     46
Cash Bait     49
Calling all Lawn Owners     49
A Job for the Pros     50
Secondary Research     51
Economic Environment     51
Your Budding Business     53
Naming Your New Baby     54
Registering Your Corporate Name     57
Your Corporate Structure     58
Sole Proprietorship     58
General Partnership     58
Limited Liability Company     58
Corporation     58
The Home Zone     59
Other Licenses and Permits     60
Navigating Unfamiliar Waters     60
Cutting-Edge Help     65
Your Legal Eagle     66
Money Managers     68
Computing King     70
Covering Your Assets     70
Types of Insurance     70
Tools of the Trade     75
Lawn Maintenance/Landscaping Equipment     76
Vehicle     76
Utility Trailer      77
Vehicle Alarm System     78
Storage Facility     78
Uniforms and Hats     78
Safety Equipment     79
Digital Camera     79
Lawn Care Necessities     80
Lawn Mowers     80
Snow Removal Equipment     81
Spreaders and Sprayers     81
The Final Four     82
Landscaping Necessities     82
Basic Tools for Other Landscaping Professionals     84
Office Equipment     85
Furniture     85
Computers     86
Software     86
Telephones and Answering Machines     88
Copy Machines     88
Point-of-Sale Equipment     89
Merchant Accounts     89
Office Supplies     89
Business Services     91
Turf Tenders     99
Diving into the Labor Pool     100
The Chase Begins     101
Back to School     103
Giving 'Em the Third Degree     104
Making a Good Impression     105
Perking Up     106
Giving the Taxman His Due     106
Promoting Workplace Safety      108
Call in the Reinforcements     110
Planting the Seeds of Success     111
Industry Associations     112
American Nursery and Landscape Association     112
Association of Professional Landscape Designers     112
National Gardening Association     113
Professional Landcare Network     113
Industry Publications     114
Trade Publications     114
Consumer Publications     115
University Courses     116
Online Resources     116
Certification     118
Association of Professional Landscape Designers     118
California Landscape Contractors Association     119
Professional Landcare Network     119
Spreading the Word     121
Timing Is Everything     123
Your Plan of Attack     123
SWOT Analysis     123
Read All About It     125
Yellow Pages Ads     125
Business Cards     126
Fliers     128
Door Hangers     129
Brochures     130
Direct Mail     131
Word-of-Mouth     132
Newspaper Ads     134
Casting Your Net     137
A Phenomenal Resource     139
Your Cyber Salesperson     140
Back to Basics     140
Building a Better Web Site     141
Romancing the Home(page)     142
Selecting a Domain Name     144
The Host with the Most     144
Blowing Your Own Horn     145
Newsletters     146
Writing and Producing a Newsletter     146
Feature Articles     148
Submitting Your Manuscript     149
Home and Garden Show Promotions     150
Networking     151
The Green Stuff     153
Income and Operating Expenses     154
Phone/Utilities     155
Postage     155
Wages     155
Advertising     156
Insurance     156
Legal Services     157
Accounting Services     157
Internet Service Fees     157
Transportation/Maintenance     158
Magazine Subscriptions     158
Membership Dues     159
Loan Repayment     159
Office Supplies     159
Merchant Account     159
Benefits/Taxes      160
Miscellaneous Expenses     162
Receivables     162
Paying the Piper     163
High-Tech Bookkeeping Solutions     163
Where the Money Is     164
Uncle Sam to the Rescue     165
Do-It-Yourself Financing     165
Unearthing the Green     166
Your Green Piece on Earth     173
Why Businesses Fail     174
Hindsight Is 20/20     174
All in a Day's Work     176
Unexpected Company     176
Making the Grade     176
Going for a Ride     177
House Call     177
Your Formula for Success     178
Appendix
Lawn Care/Landscaping Resources     179
Glossary     189
Index     193